Title
a. Amend the Emergency Communications Department Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget (028-1520-EME004-8507) to reallocate six (6) vacant Communications Dispatcher I positions to six (6) vacant Communications Dispatcher II positions with an effective date of January 27, 2024; and
b. Authorize and direct the County Administrative Office and the Auditor-Controller to incorporate the approved position changes into the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Budget.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors Adopt a Resolution to:
a. Amend the Emergency Communications Department Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget (028-1520-EME004-8507) to reallocate six (6) vacant Communications Dispatcher I positions to six (6) vacant Communications Dispatcher II positions with an effective date of January 27, 2024; and
b. Authorize and direct the County Administrative Office and the Auditor-Controller to incorporate the approved position changes into the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Budget.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
This request is to reallocate six (6) vacant Communications Dispatcher I positions to Communications Dispatcher II positions to allow the department to fill positions at the lower level and provide the flexibility to promote employees upon completing the training program to Communications Dispatcher II.
Currently, there are six (6) Communications Dispatcher I and two (2) Communications Dispatcher II vacant positions. Once these positions are filled and employees complete their training program, the department will not be able to flexibly promote employees to perform the higher duties as needed to adequately staff a 24/7 operation.
The consequences of not reallocating these positions to the Communications Dispatcher II position is 2-fold. It will have negative consequences in maintaining minimum staffing levels of trained personnel who cannot be moved to the appropriate classification to be paid correctly for the job they are performing which will also result in violation of current MOU provisions.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Human Resources Department has approved the Request to Classify (RTC) for this action. The Chair of the Budget Committee approved a request to bypass the Budget Committee due to the time sensitive nature.
FINANCING:
All six (6) of the reallocated positions are currently vacant. If any of the positions are filled, the Department anticipates it can absorb the cost increases into the existing adopted budget.
At top step, Communications Dispatcher I are paid $40.018 per hour and the Communications Dispatcher II are paid $46.265. If all six reallocated positions are filled, the fully loaded annual cost increase is $98,841.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This action meets the Board’s Administration and Public Safety Strategic Initiatives. The actions demonstrate the County’s commitment to meeting the Board’s initiatives in recruiting, retaining, and attracting a diverse, talented workforce that supports the mission of Monterey County.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__Economic Development
_x_Administration
__Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
_x_Public Safety
Prepared by: John Vaught, Finance Manager II, x8883
Approved by: Lee Ann Magoski, Director of Emergency Communications, x8880
Attachments:
Board Report
Resolution